Authenticity and physician-assisted suicide: a reply to Ahlzen

In a recent article in this journal, Rolf Ahlzen treats a moral problem related to physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and the notion of authenticity. The problem is whether considerations of a patient's true self should be included in judgments of PAS. In this short commentary, it is argued that Ahlzen (1) neglects to attend to central contributions to the philosophy of authenticity, (2) provides an internally inconsistent theory thereof, and (3) conflates crucial distinctions in the debate.

Automated summary

The commentary criticizes Ahlzen's article for its shortcomings in addressing the moral issue and the concept of authenticity, arguing that he neglects central contributions to the philosophy of authenticity, presents an internally inconsistent theory, and conflates crucial distinctions in the debate.